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'Wheelin in Style?
 When it comes to
needing off-road performance accessories for our little Suzuki
trucks, it seems that there are plenty of products to choose from.
But, for us Suzuki guys and gals, there really aren't many products
out there to help us spruce up the interior of our rigs. Like mine,
the interior of your Samurai has probably seen a lot of miles and
many years go by, leaving it far from it's original condition. One
of the first cosmetic areas to show their wear are the interior
panels. These are often stained by dirt and the vinyl tends to
crack and peel away from the fiberboard, forcing many owners to
"fix" them with a little glue and the ever-indispensable duct tape.
Heck, some owners may not even have have any interior panels; I
didn't have the three in the rear bed of my truck. Talk about being
ugly...
 You may think, "Hey, trail rigs don't need to be
nice, inside or out." Well, with all that time sitting behind the
wheel out on the trail, why not have a nice place to spend it? Or
like mine, maybe your Samurai is also your daily driver. I know I
sure got tired of looking at those ratty old door panels
everyday.
 But, at last, a solution has arrived. Rocky Road
Outfitters and Keltec Systems have come to the rescue by offering a
complete set of interior panels made from tough, durable ABS
plastic. When I opened the box after they arrived on my doorstep,
my first words were to the effect of, "Damn, these things look
cool!" I couldn't wait to get these into my Samurai. They are an
attractive, shiny black and have just the right amount of texture
to them. Included is a detailed set of instructions and all the
fasteners you need. Also, the fasteners are separated into 3
plastic bags and labeled according to it's corresponding panel--a
nice touch that makes installation even more painless. I should be
'wheelin in style in no time.
Installation
 Before any installation can take place, you
first have to remove your old panels (if you have any). The only
tool necessary for the job is a Phillips screwdriver, but a window
crank clip remover is a nice tool to have also. Some people may
need a door panel remover or putty knife to assist in prying the
panels off, as well.
  Start by
removing all screws holding on the various trim, grab handles and
door straps. Next, either using a window crank clip remover or a
rag slipped behind the window crank, pop the clip off and slide off
the crank. The panels can then be pried off. Now comes the hardest
part of the installation: removal of the plastic sockets that
remain in the door. I chose to cut them out with a utility
knife.
  Next, you can
test fit each panel by setting it in place. Check to see if all the
holes line up properly and the outline of the panel is okay. Once
everything is properly aligned, go ahead and insert the fasteners,
starting at opposite corners and working inward. No tools other
than your thumb should be necessary to push the button in on each
fastener. Once all the fasteners are in place, re-install all the
grab handles, trim, window cranks and door straps. What a piece of
cake.
Impressions
 Well, I
finally have something nice on my truck to show off. Everyone that
sees them is really impressed by how great they look and with the
fit and finish. Also, given that they are made out of ABS plastic,
they should out-live my Samurai. When that does happen, the panels
are easily removed with a screwdriver to be put in my next
Samurai.
  Unfortunately, I did have a problem
with the holes in the tailgate panel not lining up, but Doug Kelsey
at Keltec Systems was happy to send me a new one. After
investigation, Doug discovered that the manufacturing die had
shifted a little and about 15 panels had to be scrapped, but he
assured me that it won't happen again. They were a wonderful
company to deal with, and I look forward to using more quality
products from them in the future.
 Overall, the panels are a very nice product that
makes my interior much more inviting, and they should be durable
enough to withstand years of off-road abuse, since they are
impervious to water and dirt. I'm confident that they would be as
welcome an addition to anyone's truck as they are to mine.
Unfortunately, I'll have to make the rest of my truck look nicer so
that the interior panels don't look out of place, considering that
now I'm 'wheelin in style.'
--John Gehring
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